Lady Spartans' golfers tame District 5

Sophomore Nichole Marquis is individual district girls golf champion, and both she and junior Becca Burkhart guide Moberly to a first place team finish at Districts.

Chuck Embree, MMI Sports Reporter

Behind the precision swings and ball placement efforts put forth by sophomore Nichole Marquis and junior Becca Burkhart on Monday, the Moberly varsity girls golf team are Class 1 District 5 champions and get to play another day this 2012 season.

The Lady Spartans carded a district best score of 410 at Moberly's Heritage Hills Golf Course, 9 strokes better than second place finisher Mexico from a field of 12 schools that were assigned here.

Finishing third in the team standings with a 440 score was Salisbury.

However, Sturgeon and Hallsville did not have at least four golfers to comprise a team score bu would have their athletes compete as individuals."It's awesome our team won districts. I am so proud of all of us in what we've accomplished so far," said Marquis. "It's so great that together we all get to go and compete. We've stayed together as a team and made each other a better golfer every day, and now we get to play together one more time."

As a result, both Moberly and Mexico advance their respective teams to compete at the Class 1 sectional playoffs being hosted at Chillicothe's Green Hills Golf Course come Oct. 8.

Marquis and Burkhart have consistently been the Lady Spartans top pair of golfers.

Marquis championed Heritage Hills and all golfers yesterday with her 17-over-par score of 87, and edged Harrisburg's Amy Thornhill by 1 stroke. Burkhart was third overall with an 89.

Both Marquis and Burkhart were sectional qualifiers a year ago along with returnee Callie Robinson, who turned in a score of 119 yesterday. Moberly juniors Rayanna Barfield had a 115 and Harley Backe shot a 131 at districts.

"I feel pretty good about being district champion. I'd really like to thank my teammates. They have really supported me this season, wanting me to do the best that I can no matter what. We also have had a lot of fun playing golf this season," said Marquis.

Marquis said she did not pay attention to her score as the day progressed, but had the feeling she was going to post a pretty decent low score because she was placing the ball well most all day.

Her 41 score on the front 9 was best among all district golfers.

Marquis said her tee shot on Hole 5 (143 yds., par-3) was a dandy as the ball landed less than 10 ft. from the cup, but she settled for par. Meanwhile her most challenging hole was the 12th (255, par-4), but she dumped her ball in the water hazard and took a double bogey.

"I tried my best to remain focused on every shot I took. If I had a bad hole, I was able to put it in the past and concentrated on doing the right things on the next one," she said. "I did not get any birdies today, but I had about 9 or 10 pars."

Burkhart had a goal of shooting in the low 90s before tee time Monday, and she would score better than Burkhart hoped for - an 89. It was her second lowest score of the season.

"I thought I had a pretty good day as I was playing and when I learned I got an 89, I was impressed and pretty happy," said Burkhart.

Hole 13, a 460-yard trip from the tee that challenges golfers to make their putt within 5 strokess, frustrated Burkhart the most yesterday.

"My first shot went into the water and I finished with a triple bogey. I was mad," said Burkhart. "The good thing for me was my drives were pretty consistent and long and I had maybe five to six pars today that helped me."

In addition to Moberly and Mexico sending their teams to sectionals, the top 15 individuals from this district who are not members of those schools also qualified to play at Chillicothe next week.

Among that group includes Salisbury golfers Hannah Nicolay who scored a 95, bethany Stallo (6) and just barely making the cut was Lexi Richards (122). Westran's Chevy Ingebritson (113) and Shanna Surber (116) also qualified for sectional play.

The state sectional golf site of Chillicothe arguably should be very favorable to the Moberly golfers.

On Sept. 20 the Lady Spartans finished second among 10 schools at an invitational where they lost to Maryville High School by just 1-stroke when their team scored a 376. Marquis turned in the third lowest score at Green Hills that day with an 83. Others were Burkhart (86), Robinson (101), Barfield (105) and Backe (119).